FL Studio for Mac Users Still in Beta Testing Stage

Image-Line the producers of FL Studio, commonly referred to as Fruity Loops, had announced that they had started to survey users for their long-awaited and highly anticipated Mac version.

The company, founded back in 1994, is famed for its renowned Deckadance virtual DJing software but shot to fame for its FL studio release back in 1997. Now on its 12th version, the software has been readily available to Windows users since the beginning, and there’s even a mobile app for both Android and iOS devices.

With 18 years of experience, there is a full-range of high-flying producers who use the software, including chart-toppers like Martin Garrix, Avicii, Afrojack, Basshunter and many more. It goes without saying that this is one of the most powerful pieces of kit in the industry.

However, if you’re a Mac user and you’re waiting for a compatible release, we’re sorry to say that you’ve still got some time to wait.

Think Back To 2013

Image-line had announced their Alpha testing stage had started and Mac musicians around the world started to get excited about all the opportunities that were going to come their way. However, even in these stages, the developers were clear that there were a lot of incomplete features that were still left to ‘iron out,’ according to Scott from the company.

There was also no VST/AU plugin supports whatsoever, no MIDI input or output support and list of dozens of other ‘kinks left to be worked”.

Fast forward to February 5th, 2017 when the surveys for the Mac users were first implemented and spoken about, a time of the era well documented by Fact Mag. However, even this wasn’t the solid proof that Mac users were looking for to confirm the upcoming release.

What we mean by survey was actually a Facebook survey post which linked to a Google Docs document where users could answer questions like how old their Mac computer was, what version it was running, whether the users used multiple screens and how they plan to use FL Studio on their Macs, such the Boot Camp feature or stream it across using a Windows mirror like Parallels.

The survey attracted just over 1,900 responses and a ton of comments on how asked for them to fix features and release a full version. In fact, although FL Studio continues to post to their social media page about once a week or every few days, the most common comment you’ll find on any of their posts is about a Mac release, showing that even after decades of waiting, there is still interest in the product.

With over three-quarter of a million followers and many more users that simply use the product, we can’t help feeling a bit let down by the company for not producing the product we’ve all been dying to use.
According to the company’s Facebook page and website, FL Studio 12.6 for Windows has now entered its Beta testing stage, but still no sign of a single Mac release, although the Beta version is available to download through the website.

However, before you jump the gun and start thinking about all the amazing tracks you’re going to make, remember that there are still many key features missing from the software that is yet to be implemented.

Some of these include;

Standard FL features including Rewire and FL Studio as VST

Plugin development such as Blood Overdrive, Dashboard, Fruit Scratcher, Wave Traveller and more

Compatibility with FL Studio Mobile

You can find a full list of all the features and adjustments that still need to be produced and developed here. Also, if you’re planning on using the Beta testing model, it’s essential that you purchase the software in order to unlock it. However, if you have already purchased the Windows version, the license key can be used on both devices.

Compatibility Is Going To Be An Issue

While Mac users have been waiting years for this release, we don’t think that you should get your hopes up that it’s going to come out anytime soon. Since the Mac version was announced four years ago, Mac computers themselves have changed dramatically and are always adding new features, leading us to believe there could be many more years to wait.

Certain design aspects, such as the recently introduced Touch Bar that many newer Mac computers now have, would make an extremely exciting addition to FL Studio and would open up so many incredible options to the users.

Think about using the Touch Bar with the Piano Roll feature!

However, on the other hand, other recent design elements, such as Apple’s decision to remove traditional USB ports from their design could end up causing a lot of problems for the company, especially when many users will be expecting to be able to plug in their hardware and MIDI keyboards.

While company responded to a question on their own website forum, titled Is “FL Studio available for Mac?”, with

“Once upon a time, the answer was no. Now the answer is ASAP. Never say never we suppose”, this doesn’t fill us with a lot of hope.

However, you never know what’s around the corner or what the company has in store, and we might just be pleasantly surprised.

Fingers Crossed, I Guess…

While there’s no official or set a date for an official Mac release of FL Studio, us Mac users can keep our fingers crossed that it’s coming soon. With any luck, it will be bigger, better and even more functional than the Windows version, ensuring that it’s worth the wait.

In the meantime, we can continue to use Boot Camp to operate the Windows version on Mac, the officially supported advice of the company, or use the current Beta testing stage version and stay limited what’s currently on offer.

On the other hand, we could just continue using the Windows version and keep our ears to the ground for the next announcement.